Zimbabwe: One With the Motherland
CULTURAL BOOK
Gain a deeper understanding of the cultural nuances and unique aspects of a developing country– highlighting its customs, traditions, history, and society. The goal is to promote cultural awareness, sensitivity, appreciation, and broaden the reader’s perspectives.
OBJECTIVE
THEME
The Importance of Environment and Wildlife Through Traditional Culture
Ndau Festival of the Arts (Event), Nhedzi Soup (Food), Mavuradonha Eco Wilderness Lodge (Location)
TOPICS
Client
Student project
Zimbabwe is a country in southern Africa known for its natural beauty and diverse landscapes. Traditional cultural beliefs play an important role in nature preservation and maintaining the harmony between mankind, wildlife, and the motherland.
Role
Author & illustrator
Process work
Visual mood board
These examples effectively integrate patterns, textures, or unique illustration styles that complement their respective themes. Natural patterns are employed as inspiration for the designs seen in the bottom left corner and are consistently utilized throughout other examples (bottom-middle & right-middle). These textures and patterns that are thematically cohesive and visually compelling.
Typography mood board
This book explores typefaces that convey strength and incorporate natural curves or roughness to reflect the essence of nature. The typography is inspired by that of organic quality, centered around the book’s theme of nature preserve and diverse wildlife. As evident from the various typeface options considered, each one exuded its own unique characteristics and distinctive qualities.
The custom 'Zimbabwe' letterform in the book was meticulously designed, starting with the Mufteya typeface as a base. Stacking letters in rows of three created a vertical orientation, while transforming them into organic shapes filled white space elegantly. This design symbolizes Zimbabwe's natural beauty and unity, capturing the essence of the book's theme with a unique visual representation.
CUSTOM LETTERFORM
The style guide showcases the typography and colors chosen for 'Zimbabwe: One With The Motherland.' Heading 1 uses Blogh Regular, a strong sans serif, while heading 2 uses Mufteya Regular, a unique serif font. Both were purchased for this project. Body copy is in Roboto Medium. The color scheme reflects the Nature theme with warm, organic colors.
STYLE GUIDE
Final design
The final book design is a harmonious blend of strong colors, stylized typography, and custom illustrations, seamlessly woven together to create a cohesive and visually stunning reading experience. The use of patterns and imagery, combined with organic shapes, adds texture and movement to every spread. The overall design exudes a playful and youthful energy that makes it enjoyable for all readers.